The Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint was unveiled in 1963 as the first performance-oriented model of the Giulia range, which replaced the Giuletta. Internally known as ‘tipo 105’, the car was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, who was working for Bertone at that time.
The Giulia Sprint GTA is a homologation special with great performance and sleek Bertone bodywork that belies its compact Berlinetta style. It was developed as an exclusive model by Autodelta, Alfa Romeo’s competition division. It replaced the 4-door Giulia Super Ti, which faced strong competition from the likes of the Lotus Cortina in the 1.6-litre class of the Europe Touring Car Challenge (ETC).
While the Giulia Sprint GTA has the same body as the Sprint GT, its panels are made from 1.2mm thick Peraluman 25 alloy aluminium instead of the steel that was used on the Giulia Sprint GT. This type of alloy was applied throughout the car’s body, along with a simplified interior, magnesium alloy wheels and plastic side windows. All of these features resulted in the Giulia Sprint GTA weighing just 820kg, around 200kg lighter than the Sprint GT. The ‘A’ in GTA stands for ‘alleggerita’, Italian for ‘lightweight’.
Under the bonnet is a 1.6-litre inline-4 engine from the Sprint GT. Among the differences are the addition of twin 45mm Weber DCOE14 carburettors and a revamped cylinder head with double ignition and larger valves. The car’s power is rated at 115 hp, or 170 hp in the race-derived twin-plug Corsa, mated with a close-ratio 5-speed manual transmission. The Giulia Sprint GTA also sports an independent front suspension with double wishbones and coil spring/damper units.
Many of the Sprint GTA Stradales have been converted to Corsa versions for classic racing enthusiasts. Therefore, an original Stradale example is increasingly rare and highly desirable among collectors.
This example is chassis AR613320, with a stunning Rosso Alfa exterior complemented by a black leather interior. The 3-spoke steering wheel is made of wood.
VIN: AK-613320
Year/Make/Model: Giulia GTA
Exterior Color: Red
